Has there been a more enigmatic sports figure in Chicago in the last ten years than Carlos Zambrano?? A massive force on the mound, 6' 5" 260 lbs with a punishing fastball and a wicked slider, he's also an excellent hitter from either side of the plate winning multiple silver slugger awards. There hasn't been a talent on the mound of his caliber in Chicago since Fergie Jenkins. "Big Z" found his stride in 2003 posting a 13-11 record as the 4th starter behind Kerry Wood, Mark Prior and Matt Clement. (Oh, what could have been!! It wasn't all Bartman's fault!!) He really came into his own in 2004 compiling a 16-8 record and a stellar 2.75 era. Over the next 4 seasons as the bigger names fell to the wayside due to various and sometimes questionable (hot tubs can be dangerous places!!) injuries, Zambrano stayed "healthy" and seemed to settle in as "ace" of the Cubs pitching staff averaging 15 wins a year while netting a 'big time' 5 year contract valued at $91.5 million.. Tossing a beautiful no hitter against the Astros in the waning weeks of September 2008 on the way to taking his team to the playoffs for the second year in a row, was a shining highlight of his career and gave Cub fans hope that the "curse" would soon be over.
Until now, the 2008 season was high tide on 'Zambrano beach' and life has been anything but since. There were warning signs along the way; always an emotional player on the mound and at the plate, "Big Z" would often throw a stomping fit while cursing into his mitt after giving up a home run at a critical juncture. More than once, he easily snapped his bat over his knee after striking out at the plate like a bull snapping a twig. Cub fans were content to believe that Michael Barrett, the talented Cubs catcher traded away after trading dugout blows with Z in 2007, must have been the instigator in the altercation, and Zambrano was simply showing his passion for winning. The underlying truth here, as in several other incidents, is Zambrano believed he was bigger than the team and anyone who couldn't or wouldn't cotton to that should get in line or get the hell out of his way! This "attitude of ingratitude" came to a violent head last year on June 25th in a game against the White Sox. After giving up a 3 run homer to Carlos Quentin and watching Derek Lee duff a routine grounder, Zambrano went into a blind rage at Lee and teammates alike finally disabling a defenseless Gatorade cooler before retiring to the clubhouse. It wasn't the only time Zambrano had lost his composure in the dugout at the expense of his team and a water cooler, but it was definitely the most damning. Zambrano wasn't the only one who was disappointed in how 2010 was digressing but he was the only one who couldn't control his actions. He had become a detriment to himself, his team, and Lou Piniella. It spelled the end of Piniella's run in Chicago. Try as he may, and it was a good try at that, Lou just couldn't reverse the curse! He had lost his grip on the team and wanted to tap out. Less than two months later, he "retired." Piniella claimed his ailing mother needed him and she may well have, but, we all know it was Zambrano's erruption that made Lou throw up his hands and say, @#$% this!! (Lou works for the Giants now) For his antics, Zambrano was suspended from the team indefinitely and was "sentenced" to anger management counseling. Not the type of 'management material' we were hoping for!! The rest of the 2010 season slid down the toilet like so many others, relegating Cub fans to "wait til next year" once again. I stopped watching after that, it was just too aggravating.
As always another year has rolled around with Spring training games slated to start tomorrow. Hope is back. The Cubs are back. Zambrano is back. He looks like he's lost weight and he's saying all the right things. He says it's not just about him and all 25 guys need to pull together. He says he's emotionally ready and let's not worry about what happens if things go poorly (red flag??) and how the Cubs are gonna have a great year.....(What could go wrong????) As all Cub fans, I will give this year the benefit of the doubt until there is reason not to. But I'm not gonna be surprised if another unsuspecting Cub takes the brunt of the Zambrano cyclone for misjudging a flyball, booting a routine groundball or cutting "Z" off at the Gatorade bucket. If, and it's a big if, "Z" can keep his shtt together and control himself, we will all cheer again as the Cubs win the division and head to the playoffs!! For Santo's sake, it's about time!!! Dave Kuhlman bullsbearscubssoxhoxx dave@onyerleft.com
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